Display stands

ABSTRACT

A display stand comprising a sheet of self supporting material, such as cardboard, folded about a vertical fold line into two panels, which can be hinged from the flat towards one another, and about at least two transverse fold lines so that the sheet can be packed flat in concertina fashion. At least one spring loaded link is provided between two of the transverse fold lines and comprises a leaf hinged to the rear face of one of the panels about a line parallel to the vertical fold line, a flap hinged to the rear face of the other panel and resilient means connecting the leaf and the flap so as to permanently urge the two panels together. The two panels can be opened into the flat, the leaf and the flap laid flat against the rear faces of the one panel and the other panel respectively and the stand then folded concertina fashion about the transverse lines. When released the resilient means causes the two panels to snap open into a rigid self supporting structure by drawing the flap away from the rear face of the other panel and simultaneously drawing the two panels together.

United States Patent [1 1 Hird [1 11 3,759,477 [451 Sept. 18, 1973 DISPLAY STANDS [75] Inventor: .Iohn Hird, London, England [73] Assignee: Graphic Trend Associates Ltd.,

London, England [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 60,513

[52] [1.8. CI. 248/459 [51] Int. Cl A47g 1/16 [58] Field of Search 248/174, 459; 40/125 F, 125 H [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1970 Thomas 248/174 X Primary Examiner-William H. Schult Attorney-Arthur A. March 5 7] ABSTRACT A display stand comprising a sheet of self supporting material, @611 asca rdboardffoldedabout a vertical fold line into'two panels,-which can be hinged from the flat towards one another, and about at least two transverse fold lines so that the sheet can be packed flat in concertina fashion. At least one spring loaded link is provided between two of the transverse fold lines and comprises a leaf hinged to the rear face of one of the panels about a line parallel to the vertical fold line, a flap hinged to the rear face of the other panel and resilient means connecting the leaf and the flap so as to permanently urge the two panels together. The two panels can be opened into the flat, the leaf and-the flap laid flat against the rear faces of the one panel and the other panel respectively and the stand then folded concertina fashion about the transverse lines. When released the resilient means causes the two panels to snap openinto a rigid self supporting structure'by drawing the flap away from the rear face of the other panel and simultaneously drawing the two panels together.

11 flia ims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSE'H a ma SHEET l [1F 5 PATENTEBSEPI 81975 3 p 7 59 477 SHEET 5 [IF 5 FIGS [57 ARTHUR 19. [7mm H 1 DISPLAY STANDS BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved display stand for use in shops, offices and simflar locations to display advertising material.

It is known to provide a stand carrying printed advertising material for display in a shop window or reception area but hitherto these stands have been either manufactured in several parts which have to be assembled on site, or have been manufactured in one piece and in a rigid non-collapsible form, rendering them very bulky to transport and handle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display stand for printed material or the like which is foldable into a flat easily transportable package and which, when unpacked will spring open into a relatively rigid free-standing display stand.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a display stand comprising a sheet of material having a front, display face and a rear face, a vertical fold line dividing the sheet into two vertically arranged panels which can be hinged towards one another about the vertical fold line, at least two transverse fold lines extending across the sheet whereby the sheet can be folded that in concertina fashion, and a spring loaded link arranged between two of the said transverse fold lines and comprising a leaf hinged to the rear faceof one panel about a line arranged parallel to the vertical fold line, a flap hinged to the rear face of the other panel and resilient means connecting the said leaf to the said flap to permanently urge the two panels together whereby the two panels are held in a vertical self-supporting position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display stand according to the present invention in its erect position,

F IG. 2 is a plan view of the stand as shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of a part of the stand in its flat condition, prior to packaging,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the stand in the process of being packaged in concertina form,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a display stand forming a further embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of apart of the stand of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation of the stand of FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 to 4, a display stand is indicated generally at 10 which is formed from relatively stiff sheet material such as cardboard or similar fibrous material.

The display stand 10 comprises a single sheet of material folded about a vertical fold line 11 into two elongate vertically arranged panels 12 and 13, each of which has advertising material printed on its front face. The stand 10 is also formed with five transverse fold lines 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 which extend across the vertical fold line 11.

Adjacent the upper end of the stand and located between the two fold lines 14, a spring loaded link is provided which is indicated generally at 19. A similar resilient link 20 is also provided adjacent the lower end of the stand between the lines 17, 18 and only the link 19 will be described herein. It will be understood that the two links are similar and additional links can be provided on the stand if required.

The spring loaded link 19 comprises a rectangular leaf 21 which is cut from an edge portion of the panel 12 and folded inwardly towards the rear face of the panel 13 about a fold line 21a arranged parallel with the vertical fold line 11. The leaf 21 has a vertical edge 22 facing the panel 13 and a pair of V-shaped notches 23 and 24 are sheared from the edge 22. The spring loaded link 19 also includes a wedge-shaped member 25 formed from the same material as the stand and adhered to the panel 13 with an abutment edge 26 closely adjacent and parallel with the vertical fold line 11. The member 25 has an edge 27 opposite to the edge 26 formed with a slot 28.

Only thebottom portion 29 of the member 25 is ad hered to the panel 13 and the remainder of the member 25 forms a flap 30 which can be pivoted about a fold line 30a which is parallel with the fold line 15 from a position in which it lies flat against the rear face of the panel 13 into the horizontal position shown in FIG. 1.

A resilient means in the form of an endless heavyduty elastic band 31 is engaged in the V-shaped notches 23 and 24 in the leaf 21 and in the slot 28 in the flap 30 to link the leaf 21 to the flap 30 and provide a permanent spring force which urges the flap 30 into the horizontal position and the two panels 12 and 13 towards one another into the position shown in FIG. 1 in which further movement of the panels 12 and 13 towards one another is prevented by the flaps 30 of the two resilient links 19 and 20 which are horizontally orientated and which bear against the panels 12 and 13 respectively.

In order to fold the display stand 10 into a flat, relatively small package for transport, the leaf 21 is folded downwardly on to the rear face of the panel 12; the flap 30 is folded upwardly flat against the rear face of the panel 13 stretching the band 31 and the two panels 12 and 13 are opened outwardly until they lie in one plane.

These latter movements are carried out simultaneously and the stand 10 is then folded about the transverse fold lines 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 in a concertina fashion into a flat packageThe package can be held flat fortransport or storage by means of tape or the like. 1

When it is desired to erect the display stand 10, the tape or similar packaging element is removed and the upper end of the display stand is grasped and drawn up wardly. As the display stand 10 starts to open, as shown in FIG. 4 about the transverse lines 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, the bands 31 of the links 19 and 20 draw the flaps 30 into the horizontal position and draw the two panels 12 and 13 towards one another. As the panels 12 and 13 are drawn together the opening about the transverse lines is completed and finally the two panels snap into the erect position with the flaps 30 acting as abutments preventing further movement of the panels 12 and 13 about the vertical fold 11 and holding the panels at right angles. a

The erection of the stand is facilitated by giving it a shake initially and it will be found that it will then snap open automatically.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, positioning of the notch 28 in the flap 30 is such that the band 31 initially provides an outward pull on the flap 30.

It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to a stand incorporating the specific spring loaded links 19 and 20 of the described embodiment and other equivalent means can be provided for ensuring that the stand will snap from the concertina-folded position into the erect position. For instance, the movement can be achieved by a weight attached on a cord which passes through members attached to the rear faces of the two panels. Alternatively, the two panels 12 and 13 can be provided with a folded link of cardboard material which draws the two panels together into the erect position through its own inherent resilience.

It will be appreciated that any printed material can be applied to the front faces of the two panels 12 and 13. Alternatively, the panels 12 and 13 can be adapted to carry advertising material, give-away products or the like.

A modification of the display stand 10 is indicated generally at 40 in FIGS. to 8. The stand 40 is similar to the stand in that it is formed from relatively stiff sheet material such as cardboard or similar fibrous material and comprises a single sheet folded above a vertical fold line 41 into two elongate, vertically arranged panels 42 and 43. The sheet from which the stand 40 is formed is also provided with transverse fold lines 44 which extend across the sheet from side to side.

The stand 40 differs from the stand 10 in that each vertically extending panel 42, 43 is formed with a vertically extending crease line 45, 46 respectively and the edge portions of the panels 42, 43 lying outside the fold lines 45, 46 are reversely bent to form vertically extending flanges 47, 48 respectively.

Adjacent the upper end of the stand and located between two of the transverse fold lines 44 is a spring loaded link, which is indicated generally at 49. A similar resilient link is also provided adjacent the lower end of the stand but this is not shown in the drawings. It will be understood that the two resilient links are similar and additional links can also be provided on the stand if required.

The resilient link 49 comprises a leaf 50 which is sheared from the flange 47 of the panel 42, a flap 51 which is sheared from the flange 48 of the panel 43 and a resilient band 52 which links the leaf 50 to the flap 51. The leaf 50 and the flap 51 are each formed with cut-out portions and the resilient band 52, which is continuous, extends around theleaf 50 through the cutouts and around the flap 51 also through the cut-outs. The panel 42 is formed with an aperture 53 adjacent to the leaf 50 and the panel 43 is formed with an aperture 54 adjacent to the flap 51. The resilient band 52 extends from the leaf 50 through the aperture 53, through the aperture 54 and around the flap 51. Thus the resilient band 52 permanently draws the leaf 50 away from the flange 47 and the flap 51 away from the flange 48 and urges the two panels 42, 43 from the flat into the folded position.

Extending across the open mouth between the two panels 42, 43 is a display strip 55 which is adhered to the outside faces of the flanges 47 and 48 respectively and which hides the resilient band 52. Suspended from the resilient band 52 is a loose panel 56 which serves the dual purpose of limiting the extent to which the panels 42, 43 can be drawn towards one another by the resilient band 52 and acts as a support for a tray 57 which is shown in FIG. 8.

In addition to the loose panel 56 or as an alternative to the panel 56, lugs 58, 59, 60 can be sheared and bent from the display strip 55 and the panel 42,43 respectively to act as an additional support for the tray 57.

The stand 40 is packaged flat by opening out the panels 42, 43 into the flat, with the leaf 50 and the flap 51 lying in the plane of the flanges 47 and 48 respectively and with the display strip lying flat across and on top of the panels 42, 43. This tensions the resilient band 52 so that, when the stand 40 is released and is shaken so as to unfold the stand about the transverse fold lines 44 the resilient band draws the two panels 42, 43 from the flat towards the folded position until the loose panel 56 prevents further closing movement of the panels 42, 43 and the stand 40 is opened into the erect selfsupporting position shown in FIG. 5. In this position, display material can be attached to the outer surface 55a of the display strip 55 and the tray 57 can be inserted between the display strip 55 and the panels 42, 43. The tray 57 can thereafter be used to hold vendible articles or display articles.

It will be appreciated that a plurality of similar display strips 55 can be attached across the panels 42, 43 to provide the maximum display surface for advertising material and preferably a display strip 55 is provided to hide each resilient link 49.

The provision of the loose panel 56 is not an essential feature of the invention and other means for limiting the extent to which the panels 42, 43 can be drawn to gether can be provided, for instance the inherent stiffness of the material from which the display strip 55 is made can be relied upon for this purpose.

Further minor modifications can be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is best described in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A display stand comprising a sheet of material having a front, display face and a rear face, a vertical fold line dividing the sheet into two vertically arranged panels which can be hinged towards one another about the vertical fold line, at least two transverse fold lines extending across the sheet whereby the sheet can be folded flat in concertina fashion, and a spring loaded link arranged between two of the said transverse fold lines and comprising a leaf hinged to the rear face of one panel about a line arranged parallel to the vertical fold line, a flap hinged to the rear face of the other panel and resilient means connecting the-said leaf to the said flap to permanently urge the two panels together whereby the two'panels are held in a vertical self-supporting position. v

2. A display stand as claimed in claim 1, in which the said flap is hinged to the rear face of the said other panel about a line arranged parallel with the said transverse fold lines and is drawn by the said resilient means into a plane perpendicular to the rear face of the said other panel to thereby form an abutment for the said one panel.

3. A display stand as claimed in claim 2, in which the said leaf is partially sheared from an edge portion of the said one panel and is hinged thereto about a fold line so asto be foldable fiat against the rear face of the said one panel, with a free edge adjacent the vertical fold line.

4. A display stand as claimed in claim 3, in which the said flap has an edge arranged closely adjacent and parallel to the said vertical fold line whereby the two panels are drawn by the said resilient means into a position substantially at right angles to one another.

5. A display stand as claimed in claim 4, in which the said resilient means comprises an endless elastic band, a

the said leaf is provided with two spaced notches through which the band is threaded and the said flap is provided with a slot through which the band is engaged.

6. A display stand as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sheet is provided with a plurality of the said transverse fold lines and at least two of said spring loaded links.

7. A display stand as claimed in claim 6, wherein one spring loaded link is provided adjacent one end of the stand and another spring loaded link is provided adjacent the other end of the stand, the said flap of one of the said links being hinged to the rear face of one panel to rotate in one sense and the said flap of the other link being hinged to the rear face of the other panel to rotate in the opposite sense.

8. A display stand as claimed in claim 1, in which each said panel includes a vertical edge portion which is folded reversely with respect to the remainder of the panel about a vertical fold line to constitute a vertically extending flange and each said panel is fonned with an aperture adjacent each flange, the: said leaf and the said flap being hinged respectively to the said flanges and the resilient means extending through the said apertures in the panels.

9. A display stand as claimed in claim 8 and further including a display strip extending horizontally across the said panels so as to cover the resilient means, the ends of the said display strip being attached to the flanges.

10. A display stand as claimed in claim 9 and further including means for supporting a tray adapted to carry articles between the said panels and the said display strip.

11. A display stand as claimed in claim 10, in which the said tray supporting means comprises a loose panel suspended from the said resilient means and extending between the said vertically arranged panels, whereby the said loose panel serves also to limit the extent to which the said vertically arranged panels are drawn together by the said resilient means. 

1. A display stand comprising a sheet of material having a front, display face and a rear face, a vertical fold line dividing the sheet into two vertically arranged panels which can be hinged towards one another about the vertical fold line, at least two transverse fold lines extending across the sheet whereby the sheet can be folded flat in concertina fashion, and a spring loaded link arranged between two of the said transverse fold lines and comprising a leaf hinged to the rear face of one panel about a line arranged parallel to the vertical fold line, a flap hinged to the rear face of the other panel and resilient means connecting the said leaf to the said flap to permanently urge the two panels together whereby the two panels are held in a vertical self-supporting position.
 2. A display stand as claimed in claim 1, in which the said flap is hinged to the rear face of the said other panel about a line arranged parallel with the said transverse fold lines and is drawn by the said resilient means into a plane perpendicular to the rear face of the said other panel to thereby form an abutment for the said one panel.
 3. A display stand as claimed in claim 2, in which the said leaf is partially sheared from an edge portion of the said one panel and is hinged thereto about a fold line so as to be foldable flat against the rear face of the said one panel, with a free edge adjacent the vertical fold line.
 4. A display stand as claimed in claim 3, in which the said flap has an edge arranged closely adjacent and parallel to the said vertical fold line whereby the two panels are drawn by the said resilient means into a position substantially at right angles to one another.
 5. A display stand as claimed in claim 4, in which the said resilient means comprises an endless elastic band, the said leaf is provided with two spaced notches through which the band is threaded and the said flap is provided with a slot through which the band is engaged.
 6. A display stand as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sheet is provided with a plurality of the said transverse fold lines and at least two of said spring loaded links.
 7. A display stand as claimed in claim 6, wherein one spring loaded link is provided adjacent one end of the stand and another spring loaded link is provided adjacent the other end of the stand, the said flap of one of the said links being hinged to the rear face of one panel to rotate in one sense and the said flap of the other link being hinged to the rear face of the other panel to rotate in the opposite sense.
 8. A display stand as claimed in claim 1, in which each said panel includes a vErtical edge portion which is folded reversely with respect to the remainder of the panel about a vertical fold line to constitute a vertically extending flange and each said panel is formed with an aperture adjacent each flange, the said leaf and the said flap being hinged respectively to the said flanges and the resilient means extending through the said apertures in the panels.
 9. A display stand as claimed in claim 8 and further including a display strip extending horizontally across the said panels so as to cover the resilient means, the ends of the said display strip being attached to the flanges.
 10. A display stand as claimed in claim 9 and further including means for supporting a tray adapted to carry articles between the said panels and the said display strip.
 11. A display stand as claimed in claim 10, in which the said tray supporting means comprises a loose panel suspended from the said resilient means and extending between the said vertically arranged panels, whereby the said loose panel serves also to limit the extent to which the said vertically arranged panels are drawn together by the said resilient means. 